People should be allowed to walk their dogs on the city’s swimming beaches during the winter months, a city council committee says.

Under a compromise, dog owners could stroll the beach with their leashed dogs from Nov. 1 to March 31, except in the eastern waterfront, where dogs could run off-leash in certain areas of Balmy, Kew and Woodbine beaches.

The recommendation, adopted Thursday by the parks and environment committee, goes to city council at the end of the month for a final decision.

Since February, when a dog ban on beaches used for swimming was imposed by council for environmental reasons, Beach residents have pushed for an off-leash winter exemption, saying that was informally allowed in previous years.

“I think it’s a fair and reasonable compromise, I’m glad a meeting of the minds came together and I think everyone can be happy,” said Chris Yaccato of the?Toronto Beaches Dog Association.